Throughout my life I have encountered various types of people, changed my outlook on things, and ultimately discovered who I am as a person. Without experiencing all of the ups and downs in life, I wouldn't be able to say "I have forces that have shaped who I am," and even though the ups in life are more desirable, I know that without the downs there would be no lessons learned or mistakes to fix. Even as a child I started to notice things change around me, for example, my parents separated and later got divorced when I was very young. I accepted that my parents would no longer be "mommy and daddy," but instead "mommy and some stranger" one week and "daddy and some stranger" the next. I quickly learned that there was no chance of them ever getting back together, and as much as I didn't like that idea, there was nothing I could do about it. After the divorce I was constantly moving back and forth from Pennsylvania to South Carolina or visiting the two places in order to see both of my parents. Due to the constant moving and visiting I got to meet and grow closer to some pretty amazing people, and it's because of those people and different environments that I learned everyone has gone through unique events. I have tried to help people through these events by talking to them, getting involved in things like tutoring, big brothers big sisters, and trying to be a shoulder to cry on when things get rough. As for me, I always went to my Dad or Pappy when I was upset or needed someone to talk. They usually knew just what to say or what to do in order to build be back up, and without them I can honestly say I would be nothing like the person I am today. Aside from talking about what's going on in my daily life I discovered that writing things down in a journal helps to relieve emotions. Ever since I can remember I loved to write, and after I started keeping a journal it became easier and easier to get my thoughts and feelings out without hurting others. Another way I learned to express my feelings was through music. I got involved in chorus once I moved back to Pennsylvania, and everyday I looked forward to going there because I knew that after I left I would feel great no matter what mood I was in when I arrived to school that day. Music is still and will always be a huge aspect of my life, and something that keeps me going. My friends are probably one of the most important forces in my life, because they understand me, they know why I am the way I am, and we always support each other in everything we do. All of my friends, whether they be new or old, have rubbed off on me a bit, and although we have all fought and/or made mistakes we know that nothing can ever change the memories we created together. The final, and most important force is my mistakes. I wouldn't learn anything if I didn't mess up sometimes and need advice from others or even myself on how to correct a problem. All of these forces may seem petty, however they make me who I am, and I am proud to show both the good and bad sides.
Shandelle Sullivan Honors Humanities Mrs. Goodrich Period Two-odd October 6, 2011
Throughout my life I have encountered various types of people, changed my outlook on things, and ultimately discovered who I am as a person. Without experiencing all of the ups and downs in life, I wouldn't be able to say "I have forces that have shaped who I am," and even though the ups in life are more desirable, I know that without the downs there would be no lessons learned or mistakes to fix. Even as a child I started to notice things change around me, for example, my parents separated and later got divorced when I was very young. I accepted that my parents would no longer be "mommy and daddy," but instead "mommy and some stranger" one week and "daddy and some stranger" the next. I quickly learned that there was no chance of them ever getting back together, and as much as I didn't like that idea, there was nothing I could do about it. After the divorce I was constantly moving back and forth from Pennsylvania to South Carolina or visiting the two places in order to see both of my parents. Due to the constant moving and visiting I got to meet and grow closer to some pretty amazing people, and it's because of those people and different environments that I learned everyone has gone through unique events. I have tried to help people through these events by talking to them, getting involved in things like tutoring, big brothers big sisters, and trying to be a shoulder to cry on when things get rough. As for me, I always went to my Dad or Pappy when I was upset or needed someone to talk. They usually knew just what to say or what to do in order to build be back up, and without them I can honestly say I would be nothing like the person I am today. Aside from talking about what's going on in my daily life I discovered that writing things down in a journal helps to relieve emotions. Ever since I can remember I loved to write, and after I started keeping a journal it became easier and easier to get my thoughts and feelings out without hurting others. Another way I learned to express my feelings was through music. I got involved in chorus once I moved back to Pennsylvania, and everyday I looked forward to going there because I knew that after I left I would feel great no matter what mood I was in when I arrived to school that day. Music is still and will always be a huge aspect of my life, and something that keeps me going. My friends are probably one of the most important forces in my life, because they understand me, they know why I am the way I am, and we always support each other in everything we do. All of my friends, whether they be new or old, have rubbed off on me a bit, and although we have all fought and/or made mistakes we know that nothing can ever change the memories we created together. The final, and most important force is my mistakes. I wouldn't learn anything if I didn't mess up sometimes and need advice from others or even myself on how to correct a problem. All of these forces may seem petty, however they make me who I am, and I am proud to show both the good and bad sides.
Shandelle Sullivan
Honors Humanities
Mrs. Goodrich
Period Two-odd
October 6, 2011
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde